PSSI Global Services Plays Vital Role in Turner Sports’ The Match II; SpaceX Launch Show

To support “The Match II”, which turned out to be the most-watched golf telecast in the history of cable television, PSSI Global Services provided several primary and backup paths, as well as data and internet via satellite, using C-band transmission vehicles. In addition, PSSI’s CK35 mobile teleports at the production studio of the historic SpaceX launch show, Space Launch Live (part 2): America Returns to Space, in Burbank ingested over 30 discrete feeds via satellite, fiber, and IP for remote production and re-distribution of the show around the world.

SpaceX
Nextologies’ NXT-4 and NXT-LITE technology and gear were deployed to the show producers in Burbank and talent at their homes and in ready mode since the first launch window opened earlier this week. The producers on standby utilized the NXT-4 gear to remotely control “robo-control” the cameras. Once the video feeds were received from PSSI, the production company worked their magic and Nextologies handed off the video to the producers and talent at their respective locations.

“COVID-19 puts a new spin on the way live television is being produced due to social distancing and precautionary measures,” says Nextologies’ CEO Sasha Zivanovic. “The live show on Wednesday served as a dress rehearsal; but it took an epic amount of communication to stay in place and be able regroup so quickly. I am thrilled with the PSSI and Nextologies’ teams’ ability to regroup at a moment’s notice. Today’s show celebrated the SpaceX launch, and is a terrific win for the world, the astronauts, and for our teams on the ground who were all ready at a moment’s notice.”

The Match II
With rainy weather all day and no fiber availability on-site, “The Match II” charity golf event presented a significant live broadcast transmission challenge. Working in partnership with Turner Sports, PSSI provided C-band transmission and data services all week for testing and event services. In total, PSSI provided 420 mbps of services simultaneously via four Eutelsat C-band satellite transponders and utilized earth stations at PSSI International Teleport (PIT) to back up the Turner teleport due to the poor weather at both the Medalist Golf Club and Turner’s facilities in Atlanta, Georgia.

PSSI had two C-band transmission vehicles at the origination site and worked in collaboration with PIT to transmit two separate paths of video and 16 channels of audio from each of the vehicles. The company also provided 100 mbps of bidirectional data and 50 mbps of bidirectional internet. All satellite capacity for the project was provided by Eutelsat and accessed via PIT.

“The success of this project reflects the ongoing, and even increasing, value of satellite as a transmission method, and C-band especially in such inclement weather,” said PSSI CEO Rob Lamb. “Despite the challenges presented by the lack of fiber infrastructure and weather conditions, we were able to leverage the C-band spectrum and our expansive satellite resources to engineer a seamless transmission.”